What’s the difference between an entrepreneur and a Christian entrepreneur? Maybe nothing, or maybe a higher standard. As much as we want to think that anyone with a business is honest and seeking to add real value to the people he or she is trading with, the stats show it isn’t true.

According to Business Fraud Prevention, Inc. (BFP), 

1. The small businesses have ranked highest in fraud frequency from the ACFE’s report the nation from 2002 to 2022 with combined averages showing that the frequency of small businesses fraud is at 28% compared to larger organizations at a 22-26%.  These statistics show that the small business owner does not have the proper tools or training to prevent fraud from occurring in their business.
2. Corruption is the most common fraud scheme ranking at 32% of businesses with fewer than 100 employees and at 43% of frequency with organizations who have more than 100 employees.
3. Billing Schemes are ranked as the second most common at 29% for organizations with fewer than 100 employees.

I don’t know if there are any stats on the frequency of fraud in supposedly Christian business, but seeing the disheartening stats on fraud in churches, by churches, and by clergy make me think it is reasonable to assume that if churches can commit fraud, then so can so-called Christian businesses. 

What about your business? If you’re just trying to stay on top of the rules and best practices to keep from making a mistake, check out the Small Business Association’s website on accounting, but if the questions are moral and ethical, then go to the Bible. There is more there on the topic than I can include in this post. 

“You shall not steal; you shall not deal falsely; you shall not lie to one another (Lev 19:11). 

Stealing, lying, and false dealings. Do we need to hear more? Not really. There is never any reason steal, lie, and deal falsely in business. And if you do enough business, you will have temptation to do all those things, but it is not worth it. 

One of the Bible’s favorite ways to put it is, “A false balance is an abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is his delight” (Prov 11:1).

What if I go out of business because I’m honest? What you are saying is that you don’t have a legitimate business. You don’t have a product or service that is valuable enough to others or you can’t deliver it in a way that is economical enough to you to make it work. You need to keep looking until you find something valuable enough to bless the world with. It exists. 

Can you imagine a world where even unbelievers would hire Christians because they knew without a doubt that they will get a fair deal? Let’s make it happen!